The Wave

by Virginia Moffatt

‘I couldn’t put my Kindle down until I’d finished it’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reviewerTonight they’ll share their darkest secrets, but tomorrow, there is no escape…A devastating tsunami is heading towards the Cornish coast. With no early warning and limited means of escape, many people won’t get away in time.

While the terrifying reality of the news hits home, one young woman posts a message on Facebook, ‘With nowhere to run to, I’m heading to my favourite beach to watch the sunset, who wants to join me?’

A small group of people follow her lead and head towards the beach; each of them are harbouring their own stories, and their own secrets.

As they come together in the dying light of the Cornish sunset, they will discover something much more powerful than they ever imagined. But there is no escaping the dawn … the wave is coming…

This is a symphonic story of secrets and suspense, perfect for fans of Margaret Atwood, Claire North, and M. R. Carey.

Readers are LOVING The Wave‘It’s left me an emotional wreck’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reviewer

‘One of the BEST books ever’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reviewer

‘Wow this book was scary, sad and it made me think of how I would be in such a situation’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Alayne, Goodreads reviewer

Genres: Fiction

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2019

About the author

I've always been a writer, but have only taken it seriously in the last decade. Since then, I've participated in writing courses, had short stories published and written a play.

My first novel 'Echo Hall' has been signed by the crowdfunding publisher Unbound. The novel tells the story of three generations of women who experience love, loss and conflict during times of war. If you are intrigued and would like to be part of making this book happen please do pop over to the website and pledge!(https://unbound.co.uk/books/echo-hall)

"Rapture and what comes after" is my first collection of flash fiction, drawn from many of my weekly #fridayflash stories. It was published by Gumbo Press in 2014.

On a personal note I was born in London, the 5th of 8 children. With enthusiastic, supportive and literary parents (my Dad was an English teacher, my Mum, a nurse and voracious reader), it's not surprising lots of us write. My eldest brother has published a theology book, my eldest sister is a poet, my second sister, writes about financial law, my third is a translator and my twin sister is a successful commercial fiction writer.

I love writing. I believe I have something worth saying. I hope readers will agree.

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wave is an apocalyptic thriller with a tonne of heart and explores philosophical questions surrounding life and death and what you would do if you knew you would die at a set time. After a violent volcanic eruption, a tsunami is heading for the Cornish coast and there is no time for all residents to escape. So Sophie puts on a brave face and posts on social media for people to join her at her favourite place: the beach, usually the last place you would go if there is a tsunami on its way. Slowly but surely a steady stream of diverse people join her; each with different regrets and aspirations, political and religious views which they share with the group.

I loved that each character gets to tell their story with a chapter that is dedicated to each of their backstories — it's a sad and moving experience seeing all these very different lives coming together and ruminating over current global issues. Knowing the end is near they bare their souls to one another and share intimate moments. It's a riveting tale which is very believable, and I couldn't get enough of it. Moffatt has struck the perfect balance between profundity and thrills but she also provides much-needed wit in contrast to the dark, affecting and emotional plot. Although it does have aspects of a thriller this is a profoundly moving and bittersweet read. I hope it gets the readership it deserves. Many thanks to Killer Reads for an ARC.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little conflicted on this one. It's hugely engrossing and I couldn't put it down but there's something rather vacuous about it and most of the central characters. One thing really bugged me - these are people who spend their entire lives on their phone or tablet and their batteries never run out. But, as I say, it's not an easy book to put down. Whether you'd want to read it on the beach is another matter! Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book was scary, sad and it made me think of how I would be in such a situation as these people were in. I loved the descriptions in this book as I know Cornwall where this book is set very well and the author describes how the lines of cars queuing on the A30 to get out of Cornwall before the wave hit conjured up vivid pictures of a hot day sitting in traffic jams, something I’m unfortunately very used to!!!
The end of the book was very sad and I was actually hoping that things would turn out different, but I’m not going to spoil it by saying what happened. I have put another book by this author on my to read shelf and I will be looking out for more of hers in the future. My thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this free book in return for an honest review.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really sure what to say about The Wave by Virginia Moffatt. I was sucked in by the blurb, the plot sounded unique and like something that I was really going to love. For me, this book did not live up to expectations at all. The story was slow and repetitive and did not hold my interest. There were also things that felt unrealistic in the story that I could not get past.. one being that their phones never ran out of battery despite being on them all the time Andy having no way to charge them on a beach.

A tsunami is headed for the Cornish coast, with very little warning. The roads are gridlocked, the trains have stopped and people are trapped with no way to escape. Poppy posts on Facebook that she is going to spend the time she has left on the beach. She is soon joined by a few other people who feel the same way that she does. Strangers connect and share their stories and secrets. I found it very hard to believe that there wasn't more panic.

Thanks to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads via NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are no way biased.

[S · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay so let’s start with that synopsis...wow oh wow! What a brilliant idea for a plot! I was reading an article a few months ago about Cumbre Vieja and the tsunami it could produce and was fascinated so I knew I had to read this!

...and then I started reading it, I kept thinking oh it’s got to get better. Every chapter is a different character and it’s the most irritating format for books, one or two characters I can deal with but this has seven! Each new chapter goes over half of the last chapter but from a different point of view.

Jesus Christ this is the type of book that makes you never want to read again.

Add in some terrible writing (Virginia got confused between hole and whole at one point), Poppy did something terrible that when it’s revealed isn’t terrible at all, her and the characters that all have the same tone and inner monologue and I’m done.

I wanted this book to be so much more and I’m left regretting that I didn’t put it down 18% through like I originally wanted to.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wave was a bit up and down for me to be honest.

In the plus column, the premise is compelling and the idea behind the group dynamic narrative is sound and also the general flow of the story is that of a proper page turner

The downside was it was all a little light on emotional layers. A bit of a cliche group in the end what with the men eyeing up the women and just a lot of really shallow stuff. The immediacy of most decisions to not try and escape is super fast. I guess it didn't seem that likely that if nothing else you would just walk and keep on walking to at least give yourself a chance. The one character who did end up at least making an effort was pretty unlikable even given the bland nature of the overall characters.

I can't say I didn't enjoy it because I did. I read it in one go and yes for the time I was reading it, it was fun. But in hindsight it was a bit popcorn. Great in the moment but nothing to resonate afterwards.

Recommended as light summer reading.

[Trish at Between My Lines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Climate change is on the tip of everyones tongue nowadays, and we are all too uncomfortably familiar with how it is changing our world. So a book about a devastating tsunami coming full steam at Cornwall, and the impact that would have, was a book I wanted to read.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK for giving me for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE WAVE BY VIRGINIA MOFFATT

This book is told from the various points of view of people who have become trapped in Cornwall, and retreat to the beach for the last night of their lives. They have done the maths, and realised that escape is impossible, so instead they have resigned themselves to their fate.

As you can imagine, this made for a poignant read, as the characters examined their lives and regretted certain aspects of their lives. I did get caught up in the plot, but found there were too many main characters (seven of them!) for me to get really attached to any of them.

I think its a good book for raising environmental issues, and that can never be a bad thing. But it fell a little short for me, as I thought it would have gripped me more. Overall I’d rate this as an ok read.

WHO SHOULD READ THE WAVE BY VIRGINIA MOFFATT

I’d recommend this if you want a book that has a realistic dystopian setting, and are looking for a quick, easy read.

[J_McA 251 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if you were facing certain death, but had less than 24 hours until the end? The characters make their choices, but they all have second (and sometimes third) thoughts. This story is told much like the waves of an ocean. The order of the characters’ perspectives is the same in each section, and the tension rises and falls. It’s one of the most uncomfortable comforting books I have ever read. For a full review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was written based on a digital copy, and all thoughts are my own.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - I literally could not put it down until I finished it.

Despite it having my personal peeve of a book written in chapters by different characters (which meant a LOT of repetition) it didn't detract from the story one bit for me.

There were silly editorial mistakes, and I freely admit to being a member of the spelling and grammar police - but even those mistakes didn't take away from the story.

Recommended.

[Pippa Ainsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up as an Amazon Kindle bargain and I'm very glad I did as I devoured it in one morning stuck on the sofa with my unwell daughter.
A volcano is about to erupt in La Palma which will create a huge tsunami that is heading direct for the West Coast of England, with Cornwall being directly in the line of fire. Government resources are directed elsewhere, to more populated areas, so the inhabitants of the peninsula are left to flee to higher ground with little help.

Poppy realises very quickly that she is unlikely to escape and so decides to embrace her fate, putting out a post on Facebook inviting similarly minded people to join her at her favourite beach to await their fate. Immediately another local joins her surfing and they are gradually joined by five more people, some reluctantly, to share their last few hours together.

What follows is a compelling story with a narrative structure that many won't, I suspect, enjoy, as we have seven POV characters whose stories overlap and we bounce around the beach seeing the story play out through each character's eyes. I found the author's ability to give each character a strong narrative voice meant that the repetition of some elements kept the story moving on quickly.

This is a book that will make you think about what you would do in a similar position. Who would you long to be with? Who would you contact and what would you say to them? Would you be able to try to right past wrongs? What I found really refreshing was the flaws in the characters and that, even when faced with certain death, they weren't surrounded by people who were prepared to offer them a blank slate.

This is a very human story, with typical reactions, with a lot to say about how events unfold against the backdrop of social media and grief, the people who can't forgive, and the people who make a connection to a tragedy all about them. It left me breathless at times and I couldn't put my Kindle down until I'd finished it. Highly recommended.

[Kay Cugini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, horrifying but also uplifting

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wave had such an intriguing premise that I knew I had to read to it. If you knew that a giant wave was going to hit the UK what would YOU do? I think most of us would try to get to safer ground but what if you decided that you didn’t want to join the hundreds of people trying to escape the devastation approaching? What if you wanted to calmly await your fate, spending the last few hours doing what you love and spending it with those people who have the same principles and beliefs? And what if those people were hiding secrets? I was desperate to know more.

The Wave really does sweep you away on a swell of emotion as Poppy and a group of people responding to her Facebook post congregate on the beach to spend their final few hours surfing and talking. It’s an unusual group, brought together by coincidence and all with differing personalities. I liked the group dynamics and how they came together to discuss things that possibly they would never have done in any other situation. Yes, there were some cliches with relationships between some of them and Poppy probably wouldn’t have had much of a response to her post if she hadn’t been drop dead gorgeous, but it worked. I have to admit though that I would have tried anything to get away! So what if the traffic was queued for miles?! But why wasn’t the government helping more and making it easier to get out of Cornwall? The road going into the county was empty (a rare occurrence!!) so it could easily have been used to get double the amount of cars away and I know that if I had the slightest chance of escape I would have taken it-no matter how small! But once the decision has been made, this cast of characters took their fate in their stride whilst revealing their innermost thoughts in a way that you can only do in the company of complete strangers.

The Wave wasn’t what I was expecting. It went much deeper, unraveling the fears and acceptance that fight side by side, bringing issues to the surface as Poppy and her entourage face their destiny. It’s beautifully written and a compelling page turner, weaving its strands together in a gripping storyline. So if you’re after a thought provoking read that feels uniquely different then The Wave is definitely one for you!

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the synopsis, i knew i had to read this book. It brought back memories of a film i once saw year's ago, where there was a tsunami in the storyline with father and daughter waiting for the waves to take them. It made my heart stop back then, as it did in reading this book. I did enjoy reading this book and hope to read more by this author.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was an addictive read. A deadly tsunami is due to hit coastal areas around the world. The author has chosen to focus on a cove in Cornwall and as it is a county I live in it was so easy for me think of many of the covers near where I live.

The story focuses on a handful of people and they are introduced in a very clever way. The first person posts a status on Facebook, it is seen by the person who mentions it to a third and so on. This is how the small group of strangers find themselves on a remote beach facing the inevitable.

Each person tells their own story of how they came to be there. It is told in the present tense and so there is a little repetition but from each ones own perspective. For me this was a good way to get to know the characters and what made them tick.

The group come together, there are cross words, but there is also the understanding that they are all going to die together as the wave hits. There is a sort of resolve to the group, this almost makes the story come across not as emotionally charged as I thought it possibly would be. The inevitability of their situation I suppose. While there is emotion it is understated, and I realise it is how each of the characters holds back the tears and overly emotional blubbering. There are nerves, tensions, times of calm, as well as fun and laughter, there is contemplation and thoughts of if things could have been differently in the past. Call it wishful thinking if you like, but what it boils down to is working out who is important and how to make peace and say that final goodbye.

I was totally captivated by this book and it made me think about what I would do if I heard the news of an impending tsunami. A wonderful read that had me mesmerised and one that I would definitely recommend.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* I found this story strangely compelling and read it pretty much in one sitting with what felt like a lump in my throat when considering the thoughts that may have occupied me if faced with the same situation. It felt a little like rubbernecking a fatal RTA.

This is definitely a pre-apocalypse tale and while some of the actions/thoughts of the characters seem initially shallow, who knows what thoughts go through a mind when faced with or avoiding extermination!

Who would you call/text? What would you post online in your last 24 hours on earth? What would you say, who would you apologise to?

Regrets? I've had a few!

*One downside my kindle version had quite a few spelling issues and typos*

[booksbytheboats · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s quite a lot of characters in this book and we see each part of the day from each of them so there was quite a lot of repetition within this story. But that doesn’t take away just how moving this story is. I really loved a couple of the characters and felt deeply for what they were going through - I was so hooked on finding out how the events of this book left them feeling in the end.

The ending was done well, I would have possibly have liked a little more emotion from some of the characters but one did give me a real lump in my throat.

Unfortunately my copy of this book was riddled with mistakes (spelling, grammatical and in format) which made it hard to read but I haven’t left that affect my star rating. I’m hoping I had just received an unedited copy.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading reviews, I don’t think people give this book the credit it deserves. It truly is a terrifying yet inspiring story. The entire time I was reading, I tried imagining if I was in their shoes what would I do? So many people have been put in a situation like this; I find it aspiring that she found a way to write about a tragedy in a meaningful way. Each character learned so much about themselves and their mistakes in 12 hours and came together as one to bravely accept their death. I couldn’t put this book down…excellent read!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I loved this book....I needed a book to get my reading back on track after life getting in the way and losing concentration on my previous last few reads, this was the winner!
I wish I had been able to lock myself away for 24 hours and read this in one sitting as it deserved....
I had trouble turning over the last few pages, I really didn't want to be there at the end .......

(P.s My only sad criticism is that the book needed another proof-read / edit as there are mistakes throughout the book - missing words and extra words in sentences - this could frustrate readers but I just found myself correcting them as I read it, I was so engrossed in the story)

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I very much enjoyed this book, I had to round down to 3 stars for two reasons: each chapter is told from a different point of view, so in some parts (particularly near the end of the book), the story was repetitive and I found myself skimming over some repeated events; and there were soooo many mistakes in this book. It's like no one proofread it. There were incorrect words (too instead of to), weird commas in the middle of sentences, words seemingly in the wrong order ("will she speak about me her to friends", and missing words (for example "I return the car" should be "I return to the car").
Putting aside these issues, this was a thought-provoking story about regrets and intentions, with an undercurrent of religion.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A peculiar disaster story as the author did not bother writing about any attempt by the rescue services to evacuate her characters from Cornwall. All we heard was that the roads were clogged with traffic so people had no hope of getting out. I'm quite sure that the RNLI, the RAF, the army and private owners of helicopters/small planes could have managed to save some of these people. What was wrong with blocking off the southbound Motorway to Cornwall so that traffic could have used it as an extra Northbound lane thus doubling the escape route. And while we're at it, how did all the iPads and phones stay charged for so long. Most unconvincing.

[The Endless Unread · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and heart-stopping read. This writer knows how to create an atmosphere without a doubt. Such amazing writing style and it really makes you feel as though you are there in the heart of the moment. Will definitely be checking out this author's other reads.

[Megan Grayson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly this is a really interesting concept for a book, unfortunately the frequent grammatical errors/missing words are really jarring and take you out of the story, it feels like it hasn’t been proofread. I like having the different characters as narrators but the way it’s done has an effect on the pacing, by the fourth character describing someone playing the guitar I wanted to skim read to get past the repetition.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! I read this in under 24 hours, I NEVER do that. What a Plot!! One of the BEST books ever. Thank you Net Galley, Harper Impulse/Killer Reads and Virginia Moffatt for a Phenomenal book!! Will stay with me for a long time, this is one I will tell people about over and over.

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If you knew the world was going to end tomorrow, how would you spend your last hours?" is one of those questions that many of us will have been asked at some point or another and for most it will be as hypothetical as dream dinner guests or who would play you in the movie of your life. However, for the characters in The Wave, it's about to become a reality as a devastating tsunami is headed their way and they have no hope of escaping.
The book opens just after the world has learned that there is going to be a massive volcanic collapse on La Palma which will trigger megatsunamis that will hit the coasts of America, the UK, Ireland and Africa by eight o'clock tomorrow morning. It transpires that geologists hadn't realised the seismic activity was unusual and it was only when an intern realised the tremors were building to something far bigger than anybody could have expected. It means that with very little warning, many of the people currently in Cornwall won't be able to travel to safety in time. The roads are blocked and the rail service overwhelmed and although most people decide to keep pressing on, hoping against hope, a few make the decision to stay put rather than see out their last few hours caught up in a futile race against time.
It's a terrifying premise and yet The Wave turns out to be a rather life-affirming read. The chapters are split between a number of different characters, beginning with Poppy who posts a status on Facebook announcing her decision to spend her final hours on the beach, inviting anybody who feels the same to come and keep her company. Before long she is joined by Yan, Margaret, James, Nikki, Harry and Shelley. Yan and James are friends and Harry and Shelley in a relationship but otherwise the group are strangers. There is an element of repetition to the storyline as events are seen through their individual perspectives but I never found this to be a problem and indeed, it serves as a reminder that even in shared experiences, everybody present comes with their own personal issues.
That said, there are some characters I warmed to more than others, with Harry being the obvious outlier who is less easy to like than the others. There are a number of emotional scenes as the group quickly bond, supporting one another during their final hours but unsurprisingly, such an intense situation also leads to some uncomfortable moments where tempers become frayed, particularly when subjects involving religion or politics are discussed (and obviously Brexit is unavoidable!) What is particularly fascinating here is that although any arguments are initially immediately familiar to anybody who uses social media, in a face to face situation those involved are more able to calm down and consider other viewpoints. There is something almost unbearably poignant about the fact that it takes an unavoidable tragedy for people to recognise that those who have opposing opinions aren't always thoughtless or selfish. The juxtaposition between the group on the beach and those discussing them on social media is a sad but realistic observation of the frequent toxicity of online conversations. The characters may learn to take a step back but that doesn't mean they are forced to forego all their principles; I particularly enjoyed the conversations Nikki and James have about racism and why there are times when it is important to speak up, even - and perhaps especially - when it means confronting a friend.
As the hours tick away, tension and a heavy sadness hangs over the novel; the alternating chapters may mean little time is spent really getting to the heart of each character but nevertheless, I grew to care about them all - even Harry. As they talk about their pasts, their secrets and their regrets, there are some surprising revelations but this isn't a book filled with shock twists. It reflects on the value of ordinary lives, with all their problems and complications, and perhaps the most bittersweet aspect of The Wave is that despite the inescapable tragedy of lives being cut short, hope can still be found in the darkest of times; whether through the beauty of the natural world, seeking solace in personal faith or through the support of friendship and even love flourishing in the unlikeliest of settings. The Wave is a moving, engrossing and thought-provoking read, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beguiling, lyrical and multi-layered, Virginia Moffatt’s The Wave is an unsettling and suspenseful story that will haunt readers long after the last page is turned.

The Cornish coast is rocked by news that a devastating tsunami is hurtling close towards them. There’s been no warnings issued so the residents have had next to no opportunity to get away and find a safe space while the tsunami rages on. With life becoming suddenly fragile and uncertain, everyone is wondering just what they can do in this most trying and possibly fatal situation, but a Facebook post starts doing the rounds from a young woman who posts that she will be going to her favourite nearby beach to see the sunset. She has invited anybody who wishes to join her to come along, but what nobody realises is that it won’t be merely the tsunami people will be fearing but the shocking secrets and revelations that will be uncovered…

As the community gathers at the beach, they each bring with them their own emotional baggage. They all have pasts, secrets and stories that are weighing them down and which they find themselves wondering whether they should unburden – especially given the fact that a ruthless tsunami is coming relentlessly towards them and possibly wiping them all out. This community of people have come together in the fading dusk and they will each make a stunning and devastating discovery. One that is going to have serious repercussions regardless of what happens in the next couple of hours.

One thing is for certain – nobody can escape the dawn and the wave is getting closer and closer and showing no signs of slowing down…

The Wave is a book that will make readers feel a whole gamut of emotions. An easy read it is certainly not, but it is an intelligent, thought-provoking and insightful read that will make you feel sad, angry, frustrated, fearful, terrified and strangely hopeful.

A book that brought tears to my eyes and one which lingers in the mind, Virginia Moffatt’s The Wave is a book readers will want to tell all their friends and family about.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The publishers really have used all the right words – “haunting, scarily real and brilliantly executed”, “the heart-stopping novel that everyone will be talking about”. But what intrigued me was what the book was “about” – I notice “psychological thriller” in its categorisation, and with the approaching tsunami I guess you could reasonably add “pre-apocalyptic”. I did think that might just put it rather outside my reading comfort zone, but I was pleased to discover that it most emphatically didn’t: and that’s because its focus is on people, their interactions and relationships, their pasts and their regrets, their choices and priorities when they realise there’s no possibility of a future.

The concept is very clever – when escape becomes impossible, a random group of people respond to Poppy’s Facebook invitation to spend their last night with her at Dowetha Cove. In many ways, it could be seen as a story about and for the young – there’s a heavy focus on social media interactions, the good, the bad and the recognisably ugly. But it’s more a story for our times, with the phones, the iPads, the Skype calls, and the posting of videos on Facebook providing the group with the means to right wrongs, to assuage their guilt, to forgive and to seek forgiveness, and to say their final goodbyes to those they love.

I liked the story’s construction, around the Liturgy of the Hours, the prayer cycle marking time and the way it’s running out. The story progresses by seeing events from the viewpoint and through the eyes of each of its seven characters: and that does mean there’s a degree of repetition, overlapping and returning, that might not appeal to everyone. But I did rather enjoy that constant circling – a little dizzying at times maybe, but with the different perspectives and distinctive voices fleshing out the characters and focusing on what is most important to each of them. And as time passes, the characters who started the journey become multi-dimensional, their stories fascinating, their remaining dilemmas and actions poignant and emotional.

Although I was totally engrossed by this book, I didn’t love it unconditionally – the arguments about politics and life’s issues, the abstract rather than the personal, did make me wonder whether anyone would afford them so much importance during their final hours. And I did rather question whether I’d be outraged by Facebook trolls, blocking them as I was facing death. But that’s one of the things that makes this book so fascinating – it becomes painfully personal, and an intense experience. You find yourself questioning what you would do if in their position. Faced with a similar time frame, what would become important to you? Is there anything you’d want to put right? Who would you feel the need to talk to? And who would you really want to say goodbye to – and tell them that you loved them?

[Kerry https://likeherdingcatsblog.wordpress.com Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!  Such a  thought provoking novel.  This concept has been playing on my mind for days.  What if you only had a day to live?  What would you do?  Where would you go? Who would you be with? Such a deep question to ponder.

When Poppy realise there's no escaping the pending Tsunami about to hit the Cornish Coast she puts a message on Facebook inviting people to join her at her favourite beach to watch the sunset, not really expecting a response.  What she doesn't expect is to be joined by a random group of people, all preparing to face the inevitable.

Seeing the final hours unfold through the eyes of various characters really adds to this novel.  Yes, some events are repeated a little however it's interesting to view them from differing perspectives.  You do need to focus to keep up with the changing narrative but personally I enjoy books that show these.  The character development is so well written and the more we learn about each character, the more they come to life and begin to feel like people we actually know.  As their fate grows closer, the characters become more open and begin to divulge their regrets, secrets and life stories making this an extremely emotional read.  There are also lighter moments that really use observation of human behaviour.  I think we all have an idea of how things would be or how we would like to act in this situation and I am also aware that it's unlikely that would be the reality.  Moffatt has really explored this through these varied characters.

The whole novel is a study of human behaviour and the way different character traits interact, and behave in a time of crisis.  This heavily involves social media as this is very much a modern way of keeping in touch.  If you cannot be with loved ones then what's the best way to feel connected? Interesting question given the current climate.

This is such a thought provoking and compelling read and I loved it.       

[Misfits farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warning has been given that due to a volcanic eruption most of the Devon and Cornwall peninsula will be hit by a tsunami and an evacuation warning has been given. Getting everyone out with a relatively small exit area is a nightmare. Poppy decides not to hammer her way through it but to spend what will be her final hours on the beach and posts on social media if anyone wants to join her they are welcome. She is soon joined by Yan and then Margaret. Eventually there are seven of them. Each with their own backstory and most wanting to either put something right or to contact someone they have lost touch with. Each chapter is told by a different one of the seven giving the different perspectives. This is a very poignant read and even in the happy hours of surfing and chatting you can’t help feel that “last few hours” syndrome. What on earth must it feel like? I really don’t think I want to know. This is sensitively written and I took to several of the characters easily. The thoughtful one, the sensitive one and of course one who only thinks of himself. A moving read almost a thriller other than you know what is coming. I enjoyed this and it very much kept me within the pages. A very different read and a brave premise.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

[Eclectic Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book because of a unique plotline.  Wow! It did not disappoint. 

When a group of people decides to live their last evening on a beach in Cornwall while a tsunami is predicted to hit the next morning, they reflect on their lives and make peace with their past mistakes.

Poppy has chosen to ride out the wave on a beach in Cornwall and post her intentions on Facebook inviting anyone to join her. Little did she know six people would take her up on it.

I am impressed by Ms. Moffatt's extraordinary portrayal of one's last day on earth and the plethora of emotions one would face. The story is told in seven unique voices slowly disclosing their loves, their losses, and their what-ifs.  It is a fascinating take on self-reflection and acknowledging one's true feelings.

This is an engrossing and frightening read which makes me question what I would do in the same situation.  I guarantee you will not want to put it down.

Thank you to Ms. Moffatt for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

[Vanessa Lobato · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise for The Wave and like nothing I've every read before. A volcano erupting in La Palma creates a tsunami that will engulf the Cornish coast. With Government resources stretched and focused elsewhere, those in small villages and towns have to make their own escape and block roads as they flee. Poppy realises she can't escape in time and writes a social media post asking others to join her on her favourite beach. A small but diverse group of people join her and each reflects on their lives and their impending fate. I really struggled with this book. It maybe didn't help that I read it at the height of the pandemic and wasn't emotionally strong enough to put myself in the characters position. The story is cleverly told from each characters point of view, and while those voices were distinct, the repetition in the story really irked me and broke my attention and any tension in the narrative. I also couldn't escape the thought that no help was coming or the evacuation couldn't be better coordinated. This book just wasn't for me.